Micromotor harnesses the power of bacteria
Researchers from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have developed a micromotor powered by the movement of bacteria.
The 20-micron (1 micron = 1 millionth of a meter) diameter revolving motor has 6 blades, each with a foot that sits in a 0.5-micron deep, 13-micron diameter groove etched into a silicon substrate. The surfaces of the feet and the groove are treated with proteins that cause the bacteria (introduced via a connecting groove) to move in one direction, pushing the feet (and spinning the motor) as they pass through the groove.
The researchers believe microbial motion can be harnessed as a power source for microdevices in the future, with potential applications that include motors for micromachines and miniature pumps for tiny medical devices.
The research results were published in the August 28 edition of PNAS (online edition).
[Source: Sanyo Shimbun, Jiji]
[…] 4 - Micromotor harnesses the power of bacteria “Researchers from Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) have developed a micromotor powered by the movement of bacteria.” That is just unbelievably cool. (tags: technology motor miniature microbes powered bacteria micromotor) […]
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[…] 上图是由日本研究人员开发的微型马达，直径只有20微米。这个东西有趣的是由特殊的蛋白质诱使特定的细菌为它产生动力，从而转动。不知道未来我们是不是可以使用有这种技术开发的产品，倒时想打开电脑，首先要为自己的细菌宝宝味些面包渣（生电好像有些不现实吧,似乎用于医学比较合适）. […]
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[…] 上图是由日本研究人员开发的微型马达，直径只有20微米。这个东西有趣的是由特殊的蛋白质诱使特定的细菌为它产生动力，从而转动。不知道未来我们是不是可以使用有这种技术开发的产品，倒时想打开电脑，首先要为自己的细菌宝宝味些面包渣（生电好像有些不现实吧,似乎用于医学比较合适）. […]